Liquid applicator for bowling alleys



Aug. 28, 1956 BOERlU- 2,760,219

LIQUID APPLICATOR FOR BOWLING ALLEYS Filed Dec. 26, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l 76 74 76 30 Dam/I'm! Boem'u 30 INVENTOR.

Aug. 28, 1956 D. BOERIU 2,760,219

LIQUID APPLICATOR FOR BOWLING ALLEYS- Filed D60. 26, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dumiiru Boer/in 6 64 6 INVENTOR.

2 BY W W LIQUID APPLICATOR FOR BOWLING ALLEYS Dumitru Boeriu, Lorain, Ohio Application December 26, 1951, Serial No. 263,201

4 Claims. (Cl. 15-131) The present invention relates to devices for applying liquid preparations to floor surfaces and more particularly relates to a liquid applicator for applying liquid preparations to the surfaces of bowling alleys and the like.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a liquid applicator whereby one person may apply and spread the liquid easily and conveniently without assistance.

Another very important object of the present invention is to provide a liquid applicator having a plurality of liquid outlets which may be selectively opened and closed by the operator of the applicator.

A further feature of the present invention is the provision of a liquid applicator having a novel arrangement for actuating the liquid outlet valves from the handle of the applicator.

Yet another feature of the present invention is the provision of a liquid applicator having a wheeled carriage detachably secured thereto whereby the applicator may be easily and conveniently transported from place to place when not in use.

The last feature of the present invention to be mentioned specifically herein is the provision of a liquid applicator having guide means to guide the applicator directly upon bowling alleys and thus eliminate the possibility of spreading the liquid into the gutters of the alleys.

These, together with various ancillary features and objects of the invention which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this device, a preferred embodiment of which is to be illustrated by way of example only in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top View of the device of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front view of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a side view of the device of the present invention;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the liquid container of the present invention taken substantially along the section line 4--4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is another sectional view of the liquid container of the present invention taken substantially along the section line 55' of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a top detail view of the liquid outlet valve and valve arm of the present invention taken substantially along the section line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a sectional view of the detachable con nection between the spreader and the wheeled carriage of the present invention taken substantially along the section line 77 of Figure 2; and

Figure 8 is a side view of the device of the present invention with the spreader being disposed on the carriage with the arms removed.

It will be noted that like reference numerals are used to described like parts throughout the specification and the various views of the accompanying drawings.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, attention is first directed to Figure 1 wherein the liquid applicator of the present invention is designated in its entirety by the numeral 10. The liquid applicator 10 comprises essentially a spreader or brush 12, a liquid receptacle or container 14 mounted on the spreader, a wheeled carriage 19 spaced rearwardly of the spreader 12 and secured to the ends thereof and a handle 16 extending from the central portion of the spreader and having an end terminating rearwardly of the spreader. Near the free end of the handle 16 are three triggers 20, each having a control rod 18 secured at one end thereto. The control rods 18 extend from the triggers 20 through slots 22 in the top of the liquid container 14. Extending across the top of the liquid container 14 is a hinge bar 24 on which hinges 26 and 28 are mounted. The end hinges 26 and center hinge 28 are associated with the liquid outlets or discharge conduits 30 in a manner to be described as the specification proceeds.

The spreader 12 is shown in this preferred embodiment as an elongated rectangular structure having rearwardly disposed enlargements at each end. These enlarged portions are to assist in preventing undue spreading of the liquid discharged from liquid outlets 30 which extend between the spreader 12 and the carriage 19. At each end of the spreader 12 are extending arms or roller mounting brackets 32 which extend transversely with respect to the entire device carrying lateral guide rollers 36 which efifectively prevent the applicator 10 from straying into the gutters of the bowling alley. The wheeled carriage 19 is of substantially the same shape as the spreader 12 and has arms 34 extending longitudinally with respect to the entire device at each end thereof detachably securing the carriage 19 to the extension arms 32 of the spreader 12. The carriage 19 is further equipped with upstanding side walls 78 whereby the spreader 12 and the structure mounted thereon can be easily and conveniently transported from place to place.

Referring now to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings it is seen that the liquid container 14 is mounted on and above the spreader by means of the inverted U- shaped bracket 38 and the rod bolts 40 extend from the ends of the hinge bar 24 through the web of the bracket 38 to securely hold the liquid container in place. Also clearly shown in this figure are the spaced liquid outlets or liquid discharge conduits 30 and 42 extending from the bottom of the container 14. These discharge conduits are spaced from one another and extend parallel to one another along a line transverse to the direction of movement of the applicator whereby the liquid may be distributed through the broadest practical area. The spreader 12 comprises a solid guide member 44 to which the bracket 38 and the handle 16 are secured with a wool spreader portion 46 attached to the bottom thereof. At the ends of the spreader extension arms 32 are attached extending brackets 48 whereby the guide rollers 36 are vertically axially secured to the extension arms 32.

In Figure 3 the wheels 54 of the carriage 19 can be observed. Triggers 20 are V-shaped and are pivotally clamped between the ends of clamp 50, extending around the handle 16 by means of fastening pin 52. Also clearly shown in this view of the liquid applicator are the outlet ends of the discharge conduits 30 terminating in the space between the carriage 19 and the spreader 12.

With reference to Figures 4 and 5 the inlet ends of the discharge conduits 30 and 42 are shown terminating in the interior of the liquid bucket container 14. The inlet ends of the discharge conduits extend through apertures in the bottom wall of the liquid container and lock nuts 74 are threadedly engaged adjacent the inlet openings on opposite sides of the bottom wall of the liquid container with sealing gaskets or washers 76 being disposed between each nut and the adjacent surface of the bottom wall to prevent leakage of the liquid through the bottom wall. Secured to the bottom wall adjacent each inlet opening is an upstanding bracket 58. A valve arm 60 is pivotally secured intermediate its ends to the upper end of each bracket '58 by means of pivot pins 62. At one end of each valve arm 60 is a flattened portion having secured to one surface a rubber-like cover 64 normally covering an inlet opening of a discharge conduit 30 or 42. On the opposite surface of the flattened portion of each valve arm 60 is an upstanding apertured lug 66. A rod member 68 extends between the apertured lug 66 and one of the hinge members 26 or 28 and is hooked over the free arm of the hinge. Secured to the underside of the free arm of each hinge is an apertured lug 70 to which the end of control rod 18 is attached. At the end of each valve arm 60 opposite the flattened portion and on the other side of the pivot pin 62 is secured one end of a resilient tension spring 72. The other end of the tension spring 72 extends through the top of the liquid container 14 and is hooked over the hinge bar 24 whereby the valve 64 is normally urged into closed position with respect to the inlet opening of its associate discharge conduit.

Figure 6 shows a top view of the valve arm 60 disclosing this member as a strap twisted intermediate its ends to form two perpendicularly related fiat surfaced portions with a valve cap 64 adjacent the end of one flat portion and the end of spring 72 secured adjacent the end of the other portion with the valve arm 60 being pivoted intermediate its ends on bracket 58.

Figure 7 shows a fragmentary view of the extension arm 34 extending from carriage 19 secured to the extension arm 32 extending from the end of spreader 12. The end of extension arm 34 is bent to a channel shape and the extension arm 32 is received in the channel. Thus, it is seen that an easily detachable connection between the spreader 12 and the carriage 19 is provided.

In the operation of the device, the operator pushes the spreader 12 along the surface to which the liquid is to be applied. The spreader 12 cleans the surface and the liquid discharge outlets of liquid discharge conduits 30 and 42 discharge the liquid onto the cleaned surface. The liquid discharge from the liquid outlets or conduits 30 and 42 is selectively controlled by the operator of the applicator by manipulation of any one of or all three of or any combination of the three trigger members 20. When any one of the trigger members 20 is pivoted about its pivot pin 52 the control rod 18 connected to the actuated trigger member pivots the free arm of one of the hinges 26 or 28. When the free arm of the hinge is pivoted in this manner the connecting rod 68 is moved pivoting the related valve arm 60 about its pivot pin 62 and releasing the valve cap 64 from its closing relation to its associated discharge conduit inlet end and permitting liquid to flow through the discharge conduit. Upon release of the trigger 20, the resilient spring 72 pivots the valve arm 60 about the pivot pin 62 in the opposite direction whereby the valve cap 64 is returned to its closing relation with the inlet opening. As shown in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings both of the central discharge conduits 22 are controlled by the actuation of hinge 28 while both of the end conduits 30 are separately controlled by actuation of either of the end hinges 26.

When the device is to be transported from place to place, the spreader 12 is simply lifted vertically upward to release the connection between members 32 and 34 and this placed on top of the wheeled carriage 19. The upstanding side walls 78 of the wheeled carriage 19 prevents the spreader from sliding ofi the carriage so that the entire assembly can be moved by the spreader handle 16.

From the foregoing, the operation and structure of the device are believed to be clearly apparent to one in the art. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, but all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A liquid applicator comprising a spreader, a liquid container mounted on and spaced above said spreader, a handle attached to said spreader, a wheeled carriage detachably connected to said spreader and selectively positionable at a position spaced rearwardly from said spreader and at a position underlying said spreader, a plurality of discharge conduits extending from said container and terminating in the space between said carriage and said spreader when the carriage is spaced from the spreader, means on said handle for selectively controlling liquid application through said discharge conduits, said carriage having peripheral side walls for retaining the spreader therein when the spreader is in inoperative position.

2. A liquid applicator comprising a spreader, a liquid container mounted on and spaced above said spreader, a handle attached to said spreader, a wheeled carriage spaced from said spreader and means detachably connecting said carriage and said spreader, a plurality of discharge conduits extending from said container and terminating in the space between said carriage and said spreader, means on said handle for selectively controlling liquid application through said discharge conduits, said connecting means including longitudinally extending at- ,taching arms secured to the ends of said wheeled carriage and transversely extending guide roller mounting brackets extending from the ends of said spreader, said arms and brackets being detachably secured to one another.

3. A liquid applicator comprising a spreader, a handle attached to said spreader, a wheeled carriage, detachably connected to said spreader and selectively positionable at a position spaced rearwardly of said spreader and at a position underlying said spreader, and means detachably connecting said carriage and spreader including longitudinally extending arms secured to the ends of said carriage and transversely extending mounting brackets extending from the ends of said spreader, said arms and brackets being detachably secured to one another and spacing said carriage rearwardly from said spreader.

4. A liquid applicator comprising a spreader, a handle attached to said spreader, a wheeled carriage, detachably connected to said spreader and selectively positionable at a position spaced rearwardly of said spreader and at a position underlying said spreader, and means detachably connecting said carriage and spreader including longitudinally extending arms secured to the ends of said carriage and transversely extending mounting brackets extending fromthe ends of said' spreader, said arms and brackets being detachably secured to one another and spacing said carriage rearwardly from said spreader, said carriage having peripheral side walls retaining said spreader therein when said carriage is in a position underlying said spreader.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,052,578 Fitzgerald Feb. 11, 1913 1,120,426 Vearing Dec. 8, 1914 1,406,123 Wenger Feb. 7, 1922 1,770,795 May July 15, 1930 2,257,316 Votaw et al. Sept. 30, 1941 2,311,038 Efird et a1 Feb. 16, 1943 2,438,354 Unterbrink Mar. 23, 1948 2,547,223 Lombardo Apr. 3, 1951 

